Some things to think about when dealing with a "Salesman"...
When you visit a motorcycle dealership, be sure you are being asked the right questions to
determine if the sales rep, (representative) is aware of your needs and or limitations. Your
rep should ask some form of these basic questions.
- Have you ever owned or ridden a motorcycle before? If so what was your last bike or
experience like? - What type of motorcycle are you interested in? (Touring, Sport, Cruiser, Scooter) and
how do you intend to ride? (Weekend Warrior, back & forth to work, cross country) - Will you be taking a passenger? How often?
- How long do you intend to be on your bike at a time. (Long trips? Short hops?)
- Do you have a certain price range?
- Do you plan to finance?
- How are you set for riding gear? (Should recommend "body armour".)
These are all important questions. If your rep isn't asking any of these questions, they may
only be interested in a sale and not your satisfaction. Lets face it, you want to be happy
with your purchase. Don't be afraid to answer some personal questions about your weight
or your passengers weight as it helps to figure out the type of horsepower or physical size of
the bike you will need.
At the same time don't forget to ask a few questions as well. Ask about their experiences on
this type of bike. Personally, I wouldn't buy a certain style of motorcycle from someone who
never rode one.
Make sure you are able to sit on the bike to test for comfort. On most bikes you should be
able to have a slight bend in your elbows and both feet on the ground. For the most part, all
bikes in the past decade have been lowered to a 25 to 31 inch seat height, making it easier
for the "Vertically Challenged" to have a wide variety of choices. If the motorcycle you're
looking for seems tall, ask about "lowering kits" and the availability of one for the style of
bike you want.
The more comfortable you are on a motorcycle, the longer you can ride it!
| "The Best Deal" |
| Let's get the "Best deal", thing out of the way. Over the years I've had people ask me "What's the best Deal?". The truth is, the best deal involves someone who is knowledgeable about the product of your interest. Someone who can answer your questions without mumbling or changing the subject with some flashy talk about "compression ratios" and "Racing Magazine-shootouts" or statistics that don't really apply to daily driving or how you will be riding. The numbers that matter are, the number of seasons will you enjoy your new motorcycle. The Best deal, is in the SERVICE you receive as a customer. You should be taken on a tour and see the Service and Set up Personnel and be able to ask a question if needed. You should know what to expect from the "TEAM" you will be working with to make your experience a good one. "The best deal you can get, is one you won't regret!" |
If you have never ridden a motorcycle before, but have always wanted to, the best way
to go about learning is through a Motorcycle Safety Course. They are available in
most states and are usually sponsored by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Motorcycle
Safety Foundation or other safety oriented organization and can save you up to 15%
on your insurance. Most organizations Provide Motorcycles for you to learn on and,
teach you through classroom as well as riding, in a two day program. In some states
it's Mandatory to take this course in order to get your motorcycle endorsement.
Most dealerships should have this information handy in a pamphlet form to take with
you. Once you locate a course in your area, sign up as soon as possible as these
classes fill up quickly.
The right training course will offer an Experienced Rider course as well. Just to brush
up on some of your skills and change old habits. It's probably a good idea to take this
program, even if it's just for the insurance discount!
Click the link below for more...
to go about learning is through a Motorcycle Safety Course. They are available in
most states and are usually sponsored by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Motorcycle
Safety Foundation or other safety oriented organization and can save you up to 15%
on your insurance. Most organizations Provide Motorcycles for you to learn on and,
teach you through classroom as well as riding, in a two day program. In some states
it's Mandatory to take this course in order to get your motorcycle endorsement.
Most dealerships should have this information handy in a pamphlet form to take with
you. Once you locate a course in your area, sign up as soon as possible as these
classes fill up quickly.
The right training course will offer an Experienced Rider course as well. Just to brush
up on some of your skills and change old habits. It's probably a good idea to take this
program, even if it's just for the insurance discount!
Click the link below for more...
| We all have to begin somewhere! |
| Getting Educated |
 |  |  |
Some folks like the idea
of starting out small. In
some European
countries, they start you
out on 50cc bikes and
you have to own them
for a year before you
can step up to a 100 or
125cc and you have to
own that for a year, and
so on, until you have
enough experience to
ride the 600cc or bigger
bikes.
In some cases this
makes sense. Here in
the U.S., you could buy
an 1800cc bike for your
first time ride and no
one would blink an eye!
Play it smart, if you
can't hold it up or feel
uncomfortable with the
weight of the bike,
move down a size and
start there.
I once had someone ask
me "is this bike gonna
go too fast for me?" My
answer was, "Does your
car go as fast as it can
when you put it in gear
and take your foot off
the brake?" What this
means is, you are in
control! The motorcycle
does not control you. If
you feel like starting
small, do so. If you
think you can handle a
bigger bike because you
ride the highway, go for
it!
of starting out small. In
some European
countries, they start you
out on 50cc bikes and
you have to own them
for a year before you
can step up to a 100 or
125cc and you have to
own that for a year, and
so on, until you have
enough experience to
ride the 600cc or bigger
bikes.
In some cases this
makes sense. Here in
the U.S., you could buy
an 1800cc bike for your
first time ride and no
one would blink an eye!
Play it smart, if you
can't hold it up or feel
uncomfortable with the
weight of the bike,
move down a size and
start there.
I once had someone ask
me "is this bike gonna
go too fast for me?" My
answer was, "Does your
car go as fast as it can
when you put it in gear
and take your foot off
the brake?" What this
means is, you are in
control! The motorcycle
does not control you. If
you feel like starting
small, do so. If you
think you can handle a
bigger bike because you
ride the highway, go for
it!
| MotorcyclistLink.com |